CFA Best Practices for Application Questions and Answers

Question 1

The 4R Nutrient Stewardship framework is a cornerstone of best practices for fertilizer application. What are the four "rights" that comprise this framework?

Accepted Answer

Right Source, Right Rate, Right Time, Right Place

Answer

Right Regulation, Right Test, Right Equipment, Right Price

Answer

Right Crop, Right Season, Right Weather, Right Soil

Answer

Right Spreader, Right Tractor, Right Field, Right Form

Question 2

An applicator is applying granular phosphorus fertilizer to a field that slopes gently towards a stream. To best protect water quality from nutrient runoff, which of the following actions is most critical?

Accepted Answer

Maintaining a mandatory or voluntary vegetated buffer strip where no fertilizer is applied.

Answer

Applying the fertilizer in the middle of the day when the sun is brightest.

Answer

Increasing the application rate by 10% to account for potential losses.

Answer

Calibrating the spreader to throw fertilizer into the water to feed aquatic plants.

Question 3

A farmer is growing corn on a silt loam soil in a region that receives significant spring rainfall. To maximize nitrogen use efficiency and minimize the risk of leaching or denitrification, which nitrogen application strategy is most advisable?

Accepted Answer

Applying a smaller portion of nitrogen at or near planting, and the majority as a sidedress application when the corn is actively growing.

Answer

Applying the full amount of nitrogen as anhydrous ammonia in the fall before planting.

Answer

Broadcasting the entire nitrogen requirement as urea on the soil surface one month before planting.

Answer

Applying all the nitrogen as a liquid UAN solution immediately after the corn has been harvested.

Question 4

Which of the following is a primary agronomic advantage of banding a phosphorus (P) fertilizer near the seed row, especially in cool, low-testing soils?

Accepted Answer

It concentrates the immobile nutrient in a zone where it is more accessible to young plant roots.

Answer

It encourages deep root growth by forcing roots to search for nutrients.

Answer

It increases the risk of salt injury to the germinating seed.

Answer

It guarantees that the nutrient will not be lost to volatilization.

Question 5

An applicator surface-broadcasts urea (46-0-0) on a warm, moist, high-residue field. What is the most significant potential pathway for nitrogen loss if the urea is NOT incorporated into the soil shortly after application?

Accepted Answer

Volatilization

Answer

Denitrification

Answer

Leaching

Answer

Surface runoff

Question 6

According to best management practices, which of the following pieces of information is LEAST critical to include in a fertilizer application record for a specific field?

Accepted Answer

The color of the tractor used for the application.

Answer

The date and time of the application.

Answer

The fertilizer analysis and rate applied.

Answer

The weather conditions, including wind speed and direction.